Another Oscar winner joining “The Devil Wears Prada” cinematic universe? Groundbreaking.
Kenneth Branagh is set to join the original cast members Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci for “The Devil Wears Prada 2.” 20th Century Studios announced that the film was going into production June 30. Deadline reported Branagh’s casting. IndieWire has reached out for comment.
Per Deadline, Branagh will play Streep’s onscreen husband, or rather, the fourth Mr. Miranda Priestly.
The “Devil Wears Prada” sequel was first rumored in 2024, with the film’s original screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna stated to be in talks to pen the script. Wendy Finerman was listed as producing.
The announcement of filming commencing is the first confirmation that the sequel exists. The plot is believed to focus on Streep’s Priestly, who is still the head of Runway, as she struggles to keep the magazine profitable. Blunt’s assistant character will “now be an executive at a luxury brand conglomerate that advertises with Runway,” as THR stated.
However, the cast has stayed coy about any specifics of the film. Tucci told Vanity Fair that “can’t answer” whether or not the feature is in the works, and if he would be returning. “No one will let me answer that,” Tucci said. “I think they want it to happen, I would imagine. But I cannot really speak to it because it might not happen. I don’t know.”
Tucci also told Entertainment Tonight that he has discussed the sequel with Blunt, who is now also his sister-in-law — Tucci is married to Blunt’s sister, who he met on the “Devil Wears Prada” set.
“Now Emily is my sister-in-law so it’ll be a very different dynamic. We have talked about it,” Tucci said, adding that he has to be “very cagey” when discussing the possible sequel.
“I cannot answer these questions on the grounds that they will incriminate everyone,” he said. “All I know is my fingers are crossed that it actually does happen, because we know how movies go. It would be great. It was an incredible experience, and I love those three women.”
“The Devil Wears Prada” was released in 2006 as an adaptation of former Vogue staffer Lauren Weisberger’s 2003 novel. The film earned nearly $326 million worldwide at the box office against just a $35 million budget, landing an Oscar nomination for Streep.